compound sentence

American  

noun

1. a sentence containing two or more coordinate independent clauses, usually joined by one or more conjunctions, but no dependent clause, as The lightning flashed (independent clause) and (conjunction) the rain fell (independent clause).

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compound sentence British  

noun

1. a sentence containing at least two coordinate clauses

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compound sentence Cultural  

1. A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses, often joined by conjunctions: “Dr. Watson explained his theory, and Sherlock Holmes listened quietly.” (Compare complex sentence, compound-complex sentence, and simple sentence.)

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Etymology

Origin of compound sentence

First recorded in 1765–75

Compare meaning

How does compound-sentence compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• compound sentence vs. complex sentence
• simple sentence vs. compound sentence

Example Sentences

When they are used to join the principal clauses of a compound sentence, a comma is not sufficient punctuation between the clauses.

From Business English A Practice Book by Buhlig, Rose

In a compound sentence the object is to make two or more full statements.

From An English Grammar by Sewell, James Witt

If the fundamental ideas of the two clauses bear certain definite and evident relations to each other, they should stand in one compound sentence.

From English: Composition and Literature by Webster, W. F. (William Franklin)

When the members of a compound sentence are long or are not closely connected, semicolons should be used to separate them.

From Composition-Rhetoric by Brooks, Stratton D.

A comma is ordinarily used between the clauses of a compound sentence that are connected by a simple conjunction, but a semicolon may be used between clauses connected by conjunctive adverbs.

From Punctuation A Primer of Information about the Marks of Punctuation and their Use Both Grammatically and Typographically by Hamilton, Frederick W. (Frederick William)